Month: January 2026

Tooele County, Utah—The Judicial Nominating Commission for Tooele County has selected four nominees for a justice court judge position that will serve Tooele County, Utah. The final candidate will replace Judge John Dow who resigned last month.

Following is an alphabetical listing of the nominees followed by place of employment and city of residence:

• Matthew Brass, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Farmington,
• Wayne D. Jones, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Tooele,
• Richard Thorne Kennerley, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Orem, and
• Jaime Topham, J.D., Attorney at Law and Justice Court Judge in Grantsville, resident of Grantsville.

A comment period will be held through February 1, 2026. Once application materials are provided to Andy Welch, the Tooele County Manager, he will have 30 days to make a final selection. His decision must then be ratified by the Tooele County Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council. To submit written comments about any of the candidates, please email James Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

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Salt Lake City, Utah— The Utah Judiciary invites Salt Lake County residents to attend a Court Connect town hall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City.

Court Connect is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the courts, expanding access to justice, and increasing awareness of court resources and services. This free, public event offers community members a chance to engage directly with Judiciary representatives in an informal, welcoming setting.

These town halls are designed to open doors and build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve. They offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the role of the Judiciary, how the courts operate, and how the judicial branch fits into the broader system of government.

What to Expect: 

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

● Better understand the role of the courts in Utah’s justice system

● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

● Discover how to access justice services, including self-help resources and online filing systems

● Learn about court resources available in their community

● Meet judges and court personnel in a less formal setting

These town halls mark the first step in an ongoing effort to create opportunities for the public and community partners to engage directly with the Judiciary. Court Connect events are open to everyone – individual community members, civic organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about Utah’s Judiciary.

Event Details: 

● What: Court Connect Town Hall

● When: Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

● Where: Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

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Heber City, Utah— The Utah Judiciary invites Wasatch County residents to attend a Court Connect town hall on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Wasatch County Courthouse in Heber.

Court Connect is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the courts, expanding access to justice, and increasing awareness of court resources and services. This free, public event offers community members a chance to engage directly with Judiciary representatives in an informal, welcoming setting.

These town halls are designed to open doors and build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve. They offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the role of the Judiciary, how the courts operate, and how the judicial branch fits into the broader system of government.

What to Expect: 

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

● Better understand the role of the courts in Utah’s justice system

● Ask questions and connect directly with Judiciary representatives

● Discover how to access justice services, including self-help resources and online filing systems

● Learn about court resources available in their community

● Meet judges and court personnel in a less formal setting

These town halls mark the first step in an ongoing effort to create opportunities for the public and community partners to engage directly with the Judiciary. Court Connect events are open to everyone – individual community members, civic organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about Utah’s Judiciary. No registration is required. 

Event Details: 

● What: Court Connect Town Hall

● When: Thursday, January 8, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

● Where: Wasatch County Courthouse, 1361 S. Highway 40, Heber City, UT 84032

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Tooele County, Utah—The Judicial Nominating Commission for Tooele County has scheduled a meeting on January 7, 2026 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Tooele County, Utah. The position will replace Judge John M. Dow who resigned in December. The Commission will begin the meeting at 10:00 a.m. in the Tooele Courthouse, which is located at 74 South 100 East in Tooele, Utah.

The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah judiciary and improvements to the system. Public comments will be accepted from 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Following the public comment period, the meeting will be closed to allow commission members to review applications for the vacancy.

Individuals interested in submitting oral or written commentary to the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting must contact Jim Peters at (801) 578-3824 or jamesp@utcourts.gov to request an appointment.

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